1. North Korea said it fired a launch vehicle carrying a "test-piece satellite" at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on Sunday. This contradicts South Korean military's report of mid-range ballistic missile launches detected that day.

2. Japan approved a new national security strategy on Friday. Under the strategy, Japan’s defense spending will boost to about 2% of Japan’s GDP, marking one of the country’s biggest military buildups since the second World War.

3. South Korea’s three opposition parties, Democratic Party, Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party, on Monday agreed on the details of a parliamentary probe into the Itaewon tragedy, without the participation of the ruling People Power Party.